EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — The City of El Paso says it has been awarded a $10,000 DollarWise Economic Mobility grant from the U.S. Conference of Mayors in Washington, D.C., to design and launch the Veterans in Business Accelerator, the City’s first dedicated entrepreneurship accelerator for veterans.

The City says the entrepreneurship accelerator has been implemented through the City’s Business One-Stop Shop (BOSS) program.

The award was presented during the conference, which was held from Wednesday, Jan. 28, through Friday, Jan. 30. The program is anticipated to launch in the fall and will “serve an inaugural cohort of eight local veteran entrepreneurs,” the City said.

The four-week accelerator will provide hands-on training, one-on-one mentorship, coordinated connections to Entrepreneurial Support Organizations (ESOs), and $500 seed microgrants to support early business needs such as licensing, marketing, or equipment upgrades, the City said.

The City says the sessions will focus on “translating military experience into entrepreneurship, business planning and funding fundamentals, marketing and digital presence, and operations, compliance, and growth pathways.”

The City says participants will also receive “post-program support through 30 and 90-day check-ins, referrals to partner organizations for specialized assistance, and optional enrollment in the City’s Buy El Paso Open Rewards Program to help boost local sales and visibility.”

“Veterans have already proven they can lead under pressure, solve problems, and deliver results,” said El Paso Mayor Renard U. Johnson. “When those skills are matched with the right tools and support, veterans do not just start businesses. They create jobs, expand services, and keep dollars circulating right here in our community. El Paso should be the place where military experience turns into business ownership, long-term opportunity, and real economic growth for families across our City.”

To learn more about the BOSS program and available small business resources, click here: ElPasoBOSS.org.

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